Belgium 1914 Merode

After the German invasion there was a need to produce stamps with a surcharge for the Red Cross, for which the designs of MacDonald, which were already at an advanced stage, were adapted and printed at Verschueren.

MacDonald had worked as a representative of the Maroni-Paris company that manufactured copper intaglio presses.

Generalities

Printed in lithography: J. Verschueren in Antwerp 

Publication day : Saturday 3/10/1914

Perforation: 14, other perfs can be found, 12X14, 12, 14X12 (very rare). Imperfs also exist.

Sheet: 75 stamps in three panels of 25

End of use: 14/08/1920

Postage: only valid in the domestic traffic

Remnants: these were "apparently" burned at the stamp printing company in 1928

The numbers printed are up for debate.

The initial plan called for:

5c: 600.000

10c: 600.000

20c: 75.000

Catalogs and the Red Cross indicate much lower actual numbers.

Sheet edges will sometimes show a hand applied rectangular "Depot 1914" in the frame. This stamp was applied as proof that the printed sheet had been approved and deposited. The stamp appears in different locations

Above image from an auction catalog.

There is no mention if this certification appear in forgeries

The Genuine Stamps

General Features

1. The letters B and E of BELGIUM do not touch.

2. The oblique line on the foot of the L of BELGIUM is short.

3. The cedilla of the Q of BELGIUM is drawn very visibly; The shape of the cedilla is different for each of the three values.

4. The lines are drawn clearly and evenly and have no interruptions or imperfections.

5. The shape of the front and rear scrolls of BELGIUM is different for the three values.

6. The crosses have rectangular corners and the pale red color covers the entire surface completely, without blemishes or interruptions. The 10c cross is printed in the same color as the rest of the stamp.

The four lines above the compartment with the word BELGIË consist of small squares, which are always visible, even with very heavy printed stamps. Counterfeit stamps have solid lines.

NOTE - the crosses show a pattern of darker ink squeeze on the edges from the die pressure.

5c Genuine Features

1. BELGIQUE is in the middle of the section.

2. The letters B & E are well separated

3. The leaf above the first E of BELGIQUE is not attached to the letter.

4. The letters E & L and U & E of BELGIQUE are attached top & bottom.

5. The first E of BELGIQUE is closed at the bottom.

6. The top of the E is joined to the small curl right of it

7. The curl is attached to the scroll below it

8. The letters of BELGIË are touching each-other at the foot.

9. The squares are partially visible - not in the forgery

10. Note the shape of the tail, it is different in each value

11. The upright of the 5 can be broken as with the foot. The top bar is not flat but has a dip at the tip.

Genuine Flaws

10c Genuine Features

1. The leaf almost touches the first E of BELGIQUE.

2. BELGIQUE is closer to the top of the section.

3. Note the shape of the tail, it is different in each value

4. The leaves above the letter Q of BELGIQUE almost form a straight line.

5. Two lines or two rows with dots in the 0 of the 10 at the right - difficult to see

6. The EL, GI and UE are attached top & bottom.

7. Second E of BELGIQUE is open.

8. The letters of BELGIË are touching each-other at the foot.

9. White vertical line under the second E of BELGIË

10. The cross is the same color as the stamp - note the dark edges (ink squeeze)

11. The squares are partially visible - not in the forgery

20c Genuine Features

1. There is a dot in the right side of the 0.

2. The second E of BELGIQUE is open.

3. Two lines or two rows with dots in the 0 of the 10 at the right

4. The left 20 has little notch in the scroll of on the left of the foot.

5. Note the shape of the tail, it is different in each value

6. Only the letters UE of BELGIQUE are touching each other.

7. The line in the scroll at the right of the E of BELGIQUE is broken in three pieces.

8. Unlike the others the shading lines are more visible.

9. The cross is a dull red - note the dark edges (ink squeeze)

10. Shaded lines above and left of BELGIË not clearly printed.

11. BELGIQUE is closer to the top line of the sector.

Genuine Flaws

The genuine cedillas - inking variations will occur

Forgeries

The basic premise for forgeries is a lack of a definite tail in the Q of BELGIQUE and rather a letter that looks like an O.

Although this applies to most forgeries, more recent studies clearly point out

THIS IS NOT THE CASE!

From March 1915 to October 1916, the printer Verschueren manufactured enormous quantities of counterfeit stampsnot made with the original stones.

After the start of the bombardment of Antwerp on October 7, 1914, the printing machines were shut down, the stones were defaced and the paper destroyed.

However, some original imprints and some that were rejected (closed Q) were left in the printing house and Verschueren made new stones.

This resulted in 2 forgeries

The forgeries with closed Q in BELGIQUE made from rejected imprints. These account for the majority of forgeries.

The forgeries with open Q with proper overprints without deviations were produced, as with the original printing.

The forgeries are generally noted as the "Easy" and "Dangerous" forgeries.

5c "Easy" Forgery

In the forgery (right)

1. The left 5 vertical is not thinned or broken, the foot is not thin

2. BELGIQUE is closer to the top

3. The vertical extension on the L right foot is too long

4. The 2nd E is not attached to the curl

5. Some letters in BELGIE are not attached

6. The O only has a vestige tail and the crosses are bright red - the 2 main features

5c "Dangerous Forgery"

Unfortunately I do not have a sample

The features are:

1. Vertical line of left 5 has break at top (not always)
base of 5.
2. Small varying imperfections in left foliage.
3. Shorter or broken line in the volute above right.
4. Small curved line almost disappears in circle at the top right .
5. Poor definition respecially between the legs of the central figure

6. The top frame line has many broken spots

7. The tail in the Q is different and shorter - Key feature

8. The cross are bright red and lack the edge ink squeeze.

10c "Easy Forgery"

In the forgery (right)

1. BELGIQUE is in the middle of the compartment.

2. The leaves above the QUE do not form a straight line

3. The second E of BELGIQUE is closed

4. The 10's show no signs of dots or dashes

5. Several letters in BELGIE are not joined
6. The vertical line below the E of BELGIE is removed

7. Other features are the same as the 5c

8. The O only has a vestige tail.

10c "Dangerous Forgery"

1. The noticeable difference is the color. The stamp is Vermilion and not a rose red - Key feature

2. There is no dot in the right 0

3. There are many breaks in the top frame line - Key feature

4. The leaf above the BE is missing some details

5. The tail in the Q is different and shorter - Key feature

6. The cross lacks the edge ink squeeze.

20c "Easy Forgery"

In the forgery (right)

1. The 2's are thicker

2. The left 2 does not sink into a notch in the frame

3. The curls to the sides of the 2's are much larger

4. The second E of BELGIQUE is closed.

5.  Several letters in BELGIE are not joined

6. The oblique line at the foot of the letter L from BELGIQUE is too long.

7. The O only has a vestige tail and the crosses are bright red - the 2 main features

20c "Dangerous Forgery"

1. As with the 10c the upper frame line has many breaks

2. The ribs in the left leaf are lacking and indistinct

3. There are a lot of white spots around BELGIE

4. The tail of the Q is very short

5. The overall color is violet and not lilac

6. The crosses are bright red with no ink squeeze

It has been noted that a 3rd forgery exists with tjhe Q tail added on later.

It is apparently only known canceled with 

ANTWERPEN-ANVERS 6M 2 X 12-13 

Imperforate Forgeries

These are not common but do show up on auction sites.

The ones I have seen tend to have very bright red crosses.

Reprint

In 1929 a reprint of the 50c de Mérode stamp was made on a miniature sheet, based on the original mother plate still existing at that time.

The reason for this could have been a question from postal museums in other countries, which prints of Belgian stamps asked to supplement their collection.

It is seldom available.

Above a proof of the 50c